Were you in college or high school when the pandemic hit the country? What was the biggest impact on your life during the first few months of the pandemic? I was in my freshman year of college when the pandemic hit. The biggest impact was moving back home after spending the previous months on my own. I was getting comfortable with my new life in Springfield, so when I found myself back home in my parent’s house once again, I felt like I had taken lots of steps back from the growth I had been experiencing.
What were the challenges of transitioning from seated classes (either high school or college) to online learning? Online learning made me practice patience and time management. I was used to the routine of going to class, learning, doing assignments, then that routine all over again.
For a lot of my classes, the information and lectures were posted all at once and it was up to me to learn the material at my own pace before the test. I found myself struggling to find a balance between school and home life because there was always something waiting for me to do.
What is the greatest lesson you took away from the pandemic (from the beginning to the point we are currently at with social distancing, masking)? It took me a while to come to terms with this, and often I still have to remind myself, but being alone is okay! After coming back to campus, I knew it was not going to be the same as before, but I thought I would feel more social just by being back in Springfield and on campus.
When I was staying home on Friday and Saturday nights and during the week, just being less social, I felt like a loser in all honesty. I had to remind myself that staying at home means staying safe and helping myself and others. That does not make me a loser! I had to practice embracing alone and quiet time. I am slowly finding myself enjoying it more and more all the time!
How did you practice Self-Care-As-A-Bear in dealing with the stress of online classes, isolation from friends and activities, general stress of dealing with the unknown? I adopted a few new hobbies to help myself feel productive. Health wise, I discovered dance workouts on YouTube and they make me feel amazing! Exercising at home can feel like a real chore, but I looked forward to getting to break a sweat while dancing and jumping around my living room. They gave me a mood and a health boost! My favorite channel is MadFit!
Mentally, I got really into crocheting. I would spend hours watching Netflix, but if I was crocheting, I felt like I had still accomplished something that day. I might have been sitting on the couch all weekend, but at least I had a new blanket or two to show for it!
What did you learn about yourself as you went through/continue to go through the pandemic? I learned that I don’t have to physically accomplish a lot in a day for it to be a good day. When in a good headspace, I could really enjoy days at home just hanging out with my roommate or my mom or just by myself. Your attitude will determine how much you enjoy your time, not what you do or don’t accomplish.